Connecticut western news., 1887-09-21


 were hearty eaters, who never had waited 10 minutes for their midday meal. The smell of Sohner's ham and cheese melted thelr hearts, They began at once to think of the misery of their mothers, and to shed tears of remorse. I need not dwell on their sufferlngs, which were real enough before the jour- ney was over.
 Gottfrey drove down to Philadelphia. The trip occupied two days and two nights. The children did not discover themselves. Their terror of being aban, doned outweighed all their other fears.
 Gottfrey stopped over, night at road side inns, leaving the wagon in the yard, and John clambcred down, when all was still, and found some turnips in q neighboring field, which kept the little wanderers from actual starvation. On the morning of the third day, Gottfrey started long before light, and at dawn drove into wide enclosure, in which were great houses made of canvas. The end had come! Now they could show themselves He would be angry, perhaps. But he would not leave them ! He would take them home! He unharnessed the mules and led them away, as they supposed to feed them Then he would return to unload the corn, and would find them. When he reached the gate, they saw him stop and barley for some time with couple of men; then mounting one of the mules he rode away.
 The children waited, afraid to speak lest the men in the field should discover them. Maria began to sob. She was weak from long fasting, and for the first time il her life she was untidy and un- washed. The neat little Moravian loathed herself.
 Look hereH., cried John, peeping out through the sacks. Out of one of the tents came man striped from head to | foot like zebra, another in purple vel vet and spangles, and fairy with flut- tering gauge wings. Maria had never | heard of fairies She had never heard or read of anything which could explain these monsters. \.
 minute later, man carrying great basket of raw beef went into one of the 1 tents, and there came from the inside furious growls, yelps, and last, the roar of lion.
 Johns red face turned to a pasty color. | He shook as if the beasts had him in their jaws, and opening his mouth, uttered shrill shrieks. Maria, without a word, got up, and catching him by the shoulder dragged him down from the wagon, towards the gate. It was then that she showed that there was good stuff in her.
 "Hush" she said. ''Come out of this. am going home."
 Just then the flap of another tent lifted, and two moving mountains ot flesh came out, and advanced towards her. The girl had never seen even the picture of an elephant. She stood still, as if paralyzed, in front of them.
 'Tm going home," she mechanically repeated, looking up at them. Some of the men dragged her out of the path.
 ''Who are you? Where did you come from?' they asked.
 John was too frightened to speak. 'FWe came on Gottfrey Sohner's wagon said Maria, her round eyes still fixed on the elephants.
 "The Dutchman who brought the corn?" said one of the men. ''Why die you stay behind him2 He has gon, home long ago.
 John gave cry of despair, and tn, poor girl sank as if she had been shot
 Hunger and terror, with this last blow had crushed her stout little heart at last
 The children were in circus and men
 agerie to which Sohner, by previou
 agreement had brought his corn ant oats.
 Some of the women took Marie t.
 their tent and put her to bed. They fet her and nursed her tenderly all day They gave John some work among tn , horses, for doing which he received hi meals. The two children were kindl l treated and even petted by all the queer half wild people of the circus. The poo ) girls who rode on the barebacked horse t in robes of tulle, ran in between tn acts to see if Marie had eaten her sou l and to pat her stout shoulders and no ' kindly to her.
 : The next morning the manager sen l for the children.
 l 'Sohner," he said, Cleft his wago
 for us to bring with us. We go t s Easton next week. Will you wait an l go with us? We shall pass throug your village. Or shall we send you d I rectly homc9 If you stay, these ladie
 will take good care of the little girl" y It was Maria, as u u.ual, who spoke g 'Wc'H go home. please. The ladit Il are very kind. But-I want mother, ! and she began to sob.
 The Iare-b backed rider looked at tl a clown, who jerked off his cap edge l. with bells, and passed it round. TT > silver pieces jingled in it, until the1 |. was just enought to pay for the children . fare in the wagon which ran once IT week from Philadelphia up the Lehig e Valley. They started that very nigh